Peace symposium

This Symposium is a key event of the Community held at the largest mosque in Western Europe and marks the 16th to date. The event promotes a deeper understanding of Islam and other faiths and seeks to inspire a concerted effort for lasting peace. The theme for this year’s peace symposium is ‘The Critical Need of Peace’.

More than 800 guests attend the unique event including Secretaries of State, parliamentarians, diplomats, faith and civic leaders as well as representatives from numerous charities and faith communities. Guests will also get an opportunity to be given a guided tour of the mosque complex. Various dignitaries will give short speeches and the highlight of the event will be the keynote address by the Khalifa of Islam.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was founded in 1889 by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (1835-1908) of Qadian, India. He claimed to be the expected reformer of the latter days and the awaited one of the world’s religions (the Messiah and Mahdi of the latter days). His mission was to revive the peaceful teachings of Islam and engender in people’s hearts the love of God and the duty to serve mankind.

The community is now established in more than 206 countries and it spearheads an international effort to promote education and health across the developing world as well as a global peace campaign to champion respect and human rights for all.

The Khalifa Of Islam: A Man Of Peace

The community is led by a system of Khilafat (spiritual leadership). His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the community’s fifth Khalifa and is based in London. He leads his global community and inspires it to serve humanity with the spirit of kindness and humility that is integral to Islam. In accordance with the teachings of Islam, he upholds the honour of all prophets of God and highlights the role of religion in the promotion of peace.

His Holiness has travelled globally to promote dialogue and understanding. He regularly meets presidents, prime ministers, other heads of state, parliamentarians and ambassadors of state. He has also written to world leaders urging them to inculcate a true sense of justice and peace in international relations to avoid regional conflicts from engulfing the entire world. Under his leadership, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has launched campaigns across the world that present the Islam’s true noble message of loyalty, freedom and peace. Click here to read more.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Prize for the Advancement of Peace

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community is dedicated to establish peace and to protect the basic human rights of all wherever they may be in the world and is also keen to recognise efforts made by those who seek to advance the cause of peace.

The Annual Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize is presented at the National Peace Symposium in recognition of an individual’s or an organisation’s contribution to the advancement of the cause of peace. Click here to read more.

Some Previous Guest Speakers

Professor Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief

“The Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has always made a positive contribution towards promoting religious freedom. Thus in 1948, Muhammad Zafrullah Khan, an Ahmadi Muslim and the first Foreign Minister of Pakistan, took to the podium at the United Nations General-Assembly to fully endorse the principle of religious freedom and the right to change one’s belief.”(Peace Symposium 2015)

Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

” I believe the work you are doing incarnates so much that is good and remarkable about the genius of this city… in bringing together communities, through understanding ” ( Peace Symposium 2012)

Most Rev Kevin McDonald Archbishop Emeritus of Southwark, Catholic Church

“Each one of us and each one of our communities represented here tonight has something entrusted in us to do for the course of peace and justice in the world. ” ( Peace Symposium 2014)